Huron River

Good

About Huron River

Huron River is a Lake Erie tributary in Ohio, draining a 397-square-mile watershed. The river is one of the actively-fished steelhead tributaries that make up Steelhead Alley — the south-shore Lake Erie steelhead fishery. Stocking and regulations are managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The optimal fishing flow on Huron River is 150–250 CFS — flows above this range are typically too high and stained, flows below run low and clear. The river's long-term median flow is approximately 270 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings. Steelhead enter the river from late September through early May, with peak runs typically in October–November and February–April.

Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 87 CFS, water 65.5°F, clarity clear. Steelhead Addiction's Guide's Report rates the river GOOD as of this reading.

Flow Rate
87
CFS
Gauge Height
6.40
ft
Water Temp
65.5
°F
Air Temp
58.8
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
5
mph NW

Last updated: 14 minutes ago (6:00 AM EDT)

Gauge Flow (CFS) Height (ft) Water Temp Updated
Huron River at Milan (primary) 87 6.40 65.5°F 14 minutes ago 6:00 AM EDT
Old Woman Creek near Huron 4 1.36 - 14 minutes ago 6:00 AM EDT

Guide's Report

good smallmouth bass fishing

Based on current conditions as of Wed, Jun 3 at 6:00 AM EDT (14 minutes ago)

Report generated 6:14:23 AM EDT

Running 87 CFS, water is clear, 66°F — active warmwater feeding. Dialed-in anglers will have a good day. Crystal clear — long leaders and small flies. Tell Them I'm in a Meeting With a Fish.

Steelhead green DAWN DAWN DUSK 73° 77° 71° 60° 58° Sunset 8:58pm Solar Noon 1:28pm Dawn 5:25am Dusk 9:31pm Sunrise 5:58am Dawn 5:25am 87 CFS 🌖 91% Waning Gibbous N E S W 5 NW mph 30.33" inHg stable 65.5°F Water Temp Now 6:14am
Huron River
Today's Weather: Fair W 1mph
Coming up: Mostly Clear
Flow Rate
0 CFS · 6.40 ft
10th percentile · Very Low
24h trend
-14.1%
N E S W 5 NW mph wind 72h ago now High 565 Normal 270 Low 155 Flood 2,542 OPT 6h 24h 72h 6.40ft
Optimal window 150–250 CFS
Distance 63 CFS below optimal · 6.40ft
Clouds · 59°F · NW 5mph
30.33"
Guide says: Running 87 CFS, water is clear, 66°F — active warmwater feeding. Dialed-in anglers will have a good day. Crystal clear — long leaders and small flies. Tell Them I'm in a Meeting With a Fish.
"PTO = Pursuing Trout Obsessively"

Flow is low — fish are stacked in the deepest pools and runs. Approach carefully, they spook easy.

Clear water — ideal for visual hunters like smallmouth. Long leaders, natural colors, and finesse presentations like drop-shots will produce.

Water at 66°F — post-spawn and early summer active zone. Bass are feeding aggressively in the shallows.

How to Fish It

Technique

This is tube and drop-shot weather. Drag tubes or drop-shots over rocky structures, reefs, and current seams. Active retrieve will trigger strikes.

Fly/Lure Selection

Clear water demands finesse. 6-8lb fluoro, natural colored tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin), 3-inch drop-shot worms, or small swimbaits.

Where to Fish

Target boulder runs, bedrock pools, bridge pilings, and shaded banks where river smallies find cover.

Timing

Dawn and dusk windows are prime. Get out early before the sun is high, or fish the last 90 minutes of light.

What's Coming

No rain in the forecast — flows will continue to drop. Fish deep pools and slow runs where smallmouth stack up in low water.

Summer Species on Huron River

Beyond steelhead — species actively targeted in Great Lakes tributaries right now.

See summer gear →

Water temp 65.5°F — warm enough for active warmwater species.

7-Day Flow & Temperature

Flow distribution

1095-day history · n=2,236 · 85% confidence

10th percentile · Low
6h 24h 72h 87 CFS 155 p25 270 p50 565 p75 OPTIMAL freq
Now vs history
63 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
150–250 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
155–565 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context: Current flow is below typical for June. June median on this river: 104 CFS (n=56 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green likely now
101–173 CFS typical
Stained
226–375 CFS typical
Muddy
544–1,868 CFS typical
Low: Below typical — fish may be hugging deeper runs.
-2 -1 0 1 2 622177532,6059,000 Theoretical z (standard normal) Sample flow (CFS)
Sample quantiles | Theoretical line Good fit (80%)

Points on the dashed line mean the river's flow distribution is log-normal. Bows at the tails suggest multiple flow regimes (snowmelt vs rain events) or sensor artifacts. The math for this river uses log-space statistics, so a poor fit here is a reason to squint at the optimal zone.

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30-Day Statistics

Min Flow
87 CFS
Max Flow
7,600 CFS
Avg Flow
683 CFS
Min Temp
52.3°F
Max Temp
80.6°F
Avg Temp
63.1°F

7-Day Fishing Outlook

Substantial precipitation in the forecast. Rivers will rise — fish the front end before conditions deteriorate.

Best day to fish: Friday — Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.

Friday is the day before rain moves in — barometric pressure drop often triggers aggressive feeding. Don't miss it.

Daily Fishing Forecast

Weather-based daily ratings — independent of current river flow. A "good" forecast day can still mean a blown-out river. Cross-reference with the Guide's Report above for a complete picture.

Overnight — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.

NWS Forecast Detail

Overnight: Clear, with a low around 54. West wind around 1 mph.

Wednesday — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 1 to 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 3 mph.

Thursday — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

Friday — Angler's Report

good fishing
  • Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night: A chance of rain showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Saturday: A chance of rain showers before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday — Angler's Report

good fishing
  • Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Sunday: A chance of rain showers before 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Monday — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Tuesday — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86.

Forecast via NWS, updated 1 hour ago (5:04 AM EDT). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.

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